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IU Provost Says If Strike Causes Civil Disobedience She Will Take Action

Last updated on Friday, April 5, 2013

(BLOOMINGTON) - A group protesting what it sees as wage unfairness at Indiana University says it disputes statements made in a letter sent to the Bloomington campus Wednesday afternoon by Provost Lauren Robel.

WFIU reports that Robel says members of the group called IU on Strike forced their way into her office earlier this week, including pushing aside her executive secretary and rifling through her purse.

But junior history major Nick Greven flatly denies accusations of physical force or breaking and entering. Greven says the Provost's response is an attempt to characterize the strike group as an unruly mob-a description he says unfairly characterizes the nature of the discussion, as well as the intentions of the group.

"It was the end of a march, we wanted to make sure our voice had been heard. So, you know, some folks thought it was a good idea to go in there, and others went along with it. It was not like a fully organized thing or anything like that," Greven says.

Robel says the group demanded a guarantee that staff taking part in the strike would be immune from any consequences-a guarantee she says she cannot grant. She ends her note by suggesting if similar civil disobedience results in any more physical contact with university staff, future consequences will go beyond just sending a letter.

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